13:25 And I contended with them, and {m} cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.(m) That is, I excommunicated them and drove them out of the congregation. read more
SEPARATION FROM MIXTURE (vv. 1-3) At this same time, of which chapter 12:27-47 speaks, they read in the Book of Moses that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, because of their hostility against Israel at the first (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). They had even hired Balaam to curse Israel, which curse God changed into a blessing. However, the Jews now acted on this instruction and separated themselves from the mixed multitude. Mixtures of believers and unbelievers are also... read more
INTERNAL REGULATIONS A NEW GENEALOGICAL RECORD (Nehemiah 7:0 ) The need for this assignment of duty to the two men named (Nehemiah 7:2 ), is not apparent unless Nehemiah contemplated a return to Persia. Later it will be seen that such return took place, but whether at this time or not, is not clear. To “fear God above many,” as Hananiah did, is a great commendation. It was customary to open the gates of a city at sunrise, but to do so in this case before the inhabitants were well awake and... read more
Chapter 13 1. On that day they read [ Heb. there was read] in the book of Moses [Numbers 22:5 ; Deu 23:3 ] in the audience [ Heb. ears] of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2. Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing [see Numbers 23:7-11 ; Num 24:3-19 ]. 3. Now... read more
Here we have recorded another instance of the zeal of Nehemiah in reforming abuses, both as it concerned the divine honor, and the people's happiness. Nothing could be more important than the preservation of God's people to themselves. The Lord by the prophet complained of this abuse. I had planted thee (said God) a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me. Jeremiah 2:21 . And spiritually considered, did it not all along point... read more
Curse, or excommunicated them, (Calmet) the guilty parents. (Haydock) --- Shaved. Hebrew and Septuagint, "plucked off their hair," by the roots, for greater torment. Sometimes quicklime was then sprinkled on the head, (Calmet) as adulterers were treated at Athens. Schol. Aristoph.[Aristophanes?] --- King Artaxerxes changed this punishment, and ordered that his officers should be forbidden to wear the tiara instead. Domitian caused the hair and beard of Apollonius to be shaven. (Philost. iii.... read more
23-31 If either parent be ungodly, corrupt nature will incline the children to take after that one; which is a strong reason why Christians should not be unequally yoked. In the education of children, great care should be taken about the government of their tongues; that they learn not the language of Ashdod, no impious or impure talk, no corrupt communication. Nehemiah showed the evil of these marriages. Some, more obstinate than the rest, he smote, that is, ordered them to be beaten by the... read more
Nehemiah 13 IN SPITE OF these good features, marking the dedication of the wall things were not perfect. On that day they again read in the 'book of Moses', and found what had been written concerning their separation from the Ammonite and Moabite, in Deut 23.0 . This led to a fresh concern as to the way they had failed in obedience, and a fresh separation from 'the mixed multitude', and further discovery of how, amongst leaders in their very midst, this instruction had been ignored. Eliashib,... read more
Intermarriages Forbidden v. 23. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Asbdod, women of the Philistines, of Ammon, and of Moab, the reforms of Ezra having been set aside; v. 24. and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, a sort of mongrel dialect, with corresponding habits learned from their heathen mothers, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. v. 25. And I contended with them, chiding them not as a private... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Nehemiah 13:1-31
CHAPTER 13 1. The separation of the mixed multitude (Nehemiah 13:1-3 ) 2. The unholy alliance repudiated (Nehemiah 13:4-9 ) 3. Nehemiah’s action in behalf of the Levites and singers (Nehemiah 13:10-14 ) 4. Provision for Sabbath observance (Nehemiah 13:15-22 ) 5. Nehemiah’s protest (Nehemiah 13:23-29 ) 6. His own testimony as to his work (Nehemiah 13:30-31 ) Nehemiah 13:1-3 . “On that day” does not mean the same day when the wall had been dedicated. It was a considerable time later,... read more